The Donkey Sanctuary | Donkey Rescue UK

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by the late Dr Elisabeth Svendsen M.B.E. in 1969.  It supports projects to alleviate the suffering of donkeys in 28 countries worldwide, including sanctuaries across Europe, where more than 15,000 donkeys and mules have been cared for, and major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work.  It also provides donkey-assisted therapy for children with additional needs and therapeutic visits for elderly people in the local community from centres in Belfast, Birmingham, Ivybridge, Leeds, Manchester and Sidmouth.

The Donkey Sanctuary UK. Beautiful and loving. They have given all they can to their owners. Their reward was to suffer in agony. We care for thousands of donkeys and we give them love. The sad truth is we are having to help more and more neglected donkeys all over the world. Without your help, we can't be there for them all.

How it all began The Founder Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE, who founded The Donkey Sanctuary, was born in Yorkshire and, although her love of donkeys started at a very early age, it was not until she was married, with a family, and helping her husband to run the Salston Hotel at Ottery St Mary in Devon that she was able to own her first donkey. Dr Svendsen's First Donkey Naughty Face joined the family in 1969, quickly followed by a donkey named Angelina. Becoming more and more interested in donkeys, Dr Svendsen joined the Donkey Breed Society and became their Area Representative.

Visiting the Exeter Market one day she saw something that changed her life - seven poor little donkeys crammed in a small pen. She tried to buy the donkey in the worst condition, without success, and from that moment on, she decided that instead of breeding donkeys she would try and save them. Growing all the time!

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